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American Gods: Why the Latest Neil Gaiman Adaptation is Must-See TV

Stunning visuals, compelling characters and a tremendously talented cast have already established American Gods as one of the TV-highlights of 2017. Based on Neil Gaiman’s dark fantasy tale, the show follows an ex-con who finds himself caught in the middle of a war between old gods and new idols. Do not miss!

For Fans of:Game of Thrones,Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, The Shannara Chronicles,

I don’t usually compliment myself, but boy was I right to include this show on my list of shows to look forward to in 2017. Here are five reasons to start watching American Gods.

1. It’s adapted from a Neil Gaiman novel

If you’re familiar with Gaiman’s works, or their previous film adaptations Coraline and Stardust,you’ll know that he is a master of the so-coined “dark fantasy” genre: His stories feel reminiscent of a strange dream and usually deal with other, fantastical worlds that exist within our own without anyone noticing. They’re also filled with dry humour and witty dialogue that draws you further into the story.

2. The female charaters are real assholes

Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of this show is its portrayal of women. There is no perfect girl next door, no damsel in distress nor any motherly figure. The females of American Gods are deeply damaged and selfish human beings / deities and personally I am loving every minute of it.

Putting an end to gender stereotypes requires a more diverse representation of men and women. Thus, it is crucial to have a character like Laura Moon (Emily Browning), a tiny young woman with a cute face that men are naturally going to gravitate towards because they want to protect her, turn out to be a total dick. She makes no apologies for being a flawed, self-centered person who wants more out of life than to be some guys wife – and it gives me every reason to champion her.

3. Ricky Whittle plays the lead

Tragic as it was to see him exit The 100 to join American Gods, it was about time Ricky’s dedication and talent were rewarded by giving him a bigger and more developed part: the British-born actor is a real gift to the craft – not to mention a real feast for the eyes.

4. Bryan Fuller strikes again

If you loved his work onPushing Daisiesand Hannibal, you’ll know that American Gods could not have found a better showrunner than Bryan Fuller. His lush visual style renders itself perfectly to a story that lives on its contrast between a dark and light. Not surprisingly, Fuller excels at giving the show the necessary fantastic, almost nightmarish feel.

Subtlety is not Bryan Fuller’s strong suit: the visionary showrunner is known for his lush aesthetics. IMG courtesy of Amazon.

5. It’s super gorey

We’re talking blood-showers-and-dismembered-limbs-flying-through-the-air level of gorey. At least it’s edited in an aesthetically pleasing way, but the show is not for the faint of heart.

To binge or not to binge? Don’t binge. The lush aesthetic makes you drowsy if you watch more than two episodes in a row.

Where can I watch?American Gods airs on Starz in the US and is distributed internationally via Amazon Prime.

Hi there and welcome to my blog! I'm Anna, a 27 year old with a passion for films and tv shows. Editor-in-training at one of Germany's best-selling tv guides. This blog aims to help you find the right programme to watch online.